Bell Let’s Speak marketing campaign adverts are ‘terrible’, just for ‘shock worth’, critics say

Set off warning: The content material and commercials featured on this article could also be disturbing to some readers.

In case you or a liked one is struggling, go to talksuicide.ca. You can even name Speak Suicide Canada toll free at 1-833-456-4566. Québec residents can name 1 866 APPELLE (277-3553).

Bell Canada’s annual psychological well being marketing campaign day, Let’s Speak, is receiving criticism in its thirteenth yr. Whereas many throughout the nation took to their social media to advertise or participate within the day, together with main companies and services just like the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Ottawa Senators, Toronto’s CAMH hospital, the Toronto Movie Competition and Calgary Police, some Canadian viewers and specialists are sharing a distinct view.

This yr, the marketing campaign’s tv commercials and billboards have struck a nerve. Some really feel the grave material, which addresses points like suicide and anxiousness, is sensationalizing the subject, in addition to has the potential to negatively set off individuals with psychological well being points.

Others level out that extra must be completed for psychological well being within the nation, the place it will possibly typically be difficult, convoluted and costly to entry the proper providers.

Others had been crucial of the firms intention. Some put a highlight on Bell Media’s employment practices and up to date controversy over the firing of anchor Lisa LaFlamme.

The Let’s Speak marketing campaign first launched in 2010, with the intention of making a dialogue round psychological well being points. It has raised tens of tens of millions of {dollars} in the direction of funding greater than 1,400 neighborhood grants and numerous psychological well being packages and analysis. In line with the Let’s Speak web site, one third of Canadians say they’ve taken motion associated to psychological well being since Let’s Speak first started.